About Kealing

Kealing Middle School has a rich history and tradition of providing an excellent education for all children.

Named for Hightower Theodore Kealing, an African-American educator, writer, editor and activist in Austin in the 19th century, the school opened in the fall of 1930 as the first junior high school for African-American students in Austin. The first principal was Professor I.Q. Hurdle, who served from 1930 to 1939. Principal T.C. Calhoun then led Kealing until 1971, when the school was closed as part of Austin’s desegregation efforts.

After serving as an annex for the Austin Independent School District and community programs, Kealing’s building was devastated by fire. In 1986, the school reopened as a junior high school, both for students in the Kealing neighborhood and for students throughout Austin ISD who were accepted into its rigorous and innovative academic magnet math and science program. In 1993, the magnet program expanded to include a focus on the liberal arts as well. In the fall of 2004, Kealing opened its sixth grade program and became a middle school.

Currently Kealing serves approximately 1250 students in grades 6 - 8. Students in the Academy Program primarily live in Kealing's attendance boundaries and students in the Magnet Program come from all over Austin ISD. Both programs provide instruction in Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Language Arts that best meet the needs of their students. Students from each program also have the opportunity to participate in a host of electives: Fine Arts, Athletics, Career and Technical Education, Languages Other Than English, and other Academic Electives.

Staff, parents and community members work together to support students in the Academy and Magnet Programs – daring to excel as “One School, Multiple Programs, Success for All.”